Now that the NPS budget for FY2026 has been resolved, the City Council’s budget approval picked up speed on Monday night.

The Council passed, piece by piece, the mayor’s FY2026 budget on Monday night but only after the process was bogged down by uncertainty over the schools.

On Thursday, in a symbolic gesture, around half of the city’s 24 city councilors abstained from voting on most parts of the budget, because there were resolutions ready to be sent to Mayor Fuller calling for her to shift money from various other departments and accounts to the NPS budget.

Over the weekend, Fuller and Superintendent Anna Nolin finalized a deal to use free cash to close the budget gap.

The School Committee voted to approve the compromise plan, and then the City Council voted to approve it with 20 in favor and one abstaining (three were absent).

While relief filled the City Council chambers, it was accompanied by worry.

Councilor Becky Grossman said she was bothered by the FY2026 base number of $292 million, because for the FY2027 budget, that base number will be used to build on.

“I just don’t think we can keep doing this year after year,” Grossman, who voted to approve the NPS budget, said.

Stephen Farrell, who was concerned about what happens after FY2026, was the one abstention. He used the opportunity to call for a change in the city’s charter, which gives the mayor complete control over the budget. In fact, if the City Council doesn’t pass a budget, nothing happens. The budget takes effect anyway.

“I do think that the city council and the next mayor need to look at a new process, and I think that truly means changing the charter, and I think that means giving the council some power to be able to negotiate earlier on with the mayor about how the budget will come out,” Farrell said.

Farrell also said that if residents want to keep up the level of services and quality of life Newton provides, the city would have to get used to regular Proposition 2 ½ overrides.

“I don’t think this city can last on a 3 percent increase,” Farrell said. “And that means a huge emphasis on educating the public in general about why we need to raise more money,” Farrell said.

With the NPS budget resolved, at least for now, the City Council approved (22 in favor, two absent) the rest of the mayor’s $623,655,678 FY2026 budget:

• $547,629,106 for the General Fund
• $5,059,393 for the Community Preservation Fund
• $5,843,366 for the Stormwater Fund
• $35,747,497 for the Sewer Fund
• $29,376,316 for the Water Fund

“I have to say, I am exceptionally proud of how this City Council has conducted itself,” Council President Marc Laredo said.

You can watch the entire meeting online.